In the Dock: People who commit benefit fraud will be prosecuted

19 October 2012

Although the vast majority of claimants are genuine, there are a few who lie or deliberately fail to report a change in their circumstances to fraudulently obtain benefits. This costs the taxpayer an estimated £1.5 billion a year, money that could have been used for the publics benefit. The Crown Prosecution Service will prosecute anybody who is caught defrauding the public purse in this way when there is sufficient evidence to do so.

Gloucestershire has recently seen one of the most shocking examples of this type of offending. On 3 October, a woman appeared at Gloucester Crown Court after admitting to eight counts of fraud, one count of forgery by faking doctors' letters and one count of child cruelty. She had fraudulently claimed about £50,000 in disability living allowance and carers' allowance by pretending her young son had cancer. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, shaved off his hair and eyebrows to imitate the effects of chemotherapy and kept up the pretence for three years while the boy was aged between four and seven.

At one point she also falsely claimed child tax credits by saying her children were living with her when they were in fact living with their father. She will be sentenced on 2 November and has been warned she faces prison.

On 26 February, another Gloucestershire woman narrowly avoided being sent to jail after admitting she had fraudulently claimed more than £11,500 in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit. Gloucester Crown Court heard how Gaye Williams pretended she was a single mum while, in fact, still living with her husband who was at that time earning up to £1,500 a week. While she was fraudulently claiming benefits, the couple lived a lavish lifestyle and sent their son to private school.

Mrs Williams pleaded guilty to three offences of obtaining benefits by dishonestly failing to disclose her husband was living with her. She also admitted failing to declare she worked for an osteopath for a short period and earned almost £800. Her husband, Glyn Williams, admitted three offences of possessing criminal property - benefit money fraudulently claimed by his wife and paid into his account.
Judge Tabor QC told the couple they had six months to repay a significant part of the loss or they would be sent to prison.

To report suspected benefit fraud anonymously, call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440.